Preparation for war

Putin is in no financial position to wage war on the wider world. His great ally, Iran, has been diminished. He’s feeling increasingly cornered and behaving rashly as a consequence, that is all. A few incursions by drone over neighbouring NATO borders does not a world war make.
The “West” would do well to provide greater support to Ukraine and put an end to Putin’s power for once and for all.

If ever there were a time for the exhausted, bereaved, suppressed people of Russia to back an opposition leader, it’s now.

Basgetti

Putin is in no financial position to wage war on the wider world. His great ally, Iran, has been diminished. He’s feeling increasingly cornered and behaving rashly as a consequence, that is all. A few incursions by drone over neighbouring NATO borders does not a world war make.
The “West” would do well to provide greater support to Ukraine and put an end to Putin’s power for once and for all.

If ever there were a time for the exhausted, bereaved, suppressed people of Russia to back an opposition leader, it’s now.

That is a very optimistic view most thought Putin could not sustain the Ukraine war yet here we are 4 yrs on with Russia on a war production footing .

Be under no illusion that Putin could easily cause havoc with our infrastructure without declaring war, the UK and NATO are far behind Russia in weapons production. We certainly can't defend ourselves against the sort of attacks that Ukraine is suffering, the US has its own problems so can't help much

What is happening is that NATO expect there to be - within the next few months - attacks by Putin.

They reckon that he is testing whether Article 5 will be invoked or, as he seems to think it is all just talk.

I wouldn’t expect Trump to play ball, but every other member should be ready to resist and aid the country being attacked.

Breaking news just now in the Telegraph:

“ Vladimir Putin’s party has won a record number of seats in Russia’s carefully planned parliamentary election in which no parties critical of the president took part.

Preliminary results showed Putin’s United Russia party won 355 seats in the 450-seat Duma lower house of parliament, Ella Pamfilova, the electoral chief, announced on Monday – a supermajority larger than the party’s previous record of 343 seats.

The election result is expected to further tighten Putin’s grip on power.

Some fear a new military mobilisation in Russia, something the president has denied, while Kyiv accuses Moscow of planning a call-up in coming weeks.”

Absolutely, David. A cyber attack or cutting power lines is the greatest threat.

I think, though, with thoughts of hardship and lost loved ones, that Nanna was referring to a more traditional, troops on the ground and bombers in the sky scenario?
I think that extremely unlikely.

We, too, could cause cyber/infrastructure for Russia.

^I think that extremely unlikely.
^

I am not so sure.

I read something from X a couple of days ago. A poster listed all the reasons why she thought war could be incoming.

I will sumarise it sometime.

Sorry, not on X.

Ok. No problem.

If something like this does happen, I very much hope that the security powers have people like Farage and cohorts very much in their sights.

I wouldn’t trust him one bit.

Trump will not help Europe because he is cahoots with the Russians one way or another.
Trump jr’s extravagant after wedding parties was paid, it is said, by one of Putin’s friends.

I have just brought a windup radio.

were paid

Basgetti

Absolutely, David. A cyber attack or cutting power lines is the greatest threat.

I think, though, with thoughts of hardship and lost loved ones, that Nanna was referring to a more traditional, troops on the ground and bombers in the sky scenario?
I think that extremely unlikely.

We, too, could cause cyber/infrastructure for Russia.

No comparison, we don't have secret police to keep the population in order, nor do we have the stoic acceptance of hardship the the Russian people have always endured. They had a few years of relative freedom after the Soviet empire collapsed, that faded fast, now it's a bad as it always was, and Putin has the power over them that he wants.
With China supplying him with technology in exchange for oil a serious enemy.

Basgetti

Putin is in no financial position to wage war on the wider world. His great ally, Iran, has been diminished. He’s feeling increasingly cornered and behaving rashly as a consequence, that is all. A few incursions by drone over neighbouring NATO borders does not a world war make.
The “West” would do well to provide greater support to Ukraine and put an end to Putin’s power for once and for all.

If ever there were a time for the exhausted, bereaved, suppressed people of Russia to back an opposition leader, it’s now.

Yes!!!!

Whitewavemark2

If something like this does happen, I very much hope that the security powers have people like Farage and cohorts very much in their sights.

I wouldn’t trust him one bit.

If UK goes to war I reckon Farage will go straight to Australia . He's got family connections there.

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I doubt that Australia will welcome an unemployed controversial right wing politician, it’s tough to move there unless you have a protected occupation that they are short of.

On the other hand Casdon, he seems to have acquired a lot of dosh.

There is no right to absolute free speech in Australia for foreign nationals though, so he wouldn’t be able to communicate controversial political views. I can’t see him fading quietly into the background.

Said on Sky News that Russia are preparing lots of hospital beds for potential military injuries. I can’t even think about this and will have to avoid the news even more. Everything goes from bad to worse to unthinkable. How did the world come to this? Why can’t we all just work together to tackle climate change and be nice to each other.

It isn't a question of preparing for war, we are already at war. Not a traditional guns and bombing war but a shadow war, fought through computers, through disinformation, through recruiting useful idiots (disaffected young men on their computers obsessed with violence,) to commit crimes that will, they hope, cause civil unrest, industrial sabotage (cutting undersea pipelines and cables), sending out drones to to buzz air bases and navy ships at sea.

Putin knows that if he commits any act of violence against a NATO nation, he will be precipitated into a war he can only lose, so he is running a shadow war, working to precipitate civil violence whether through agent provocateurs, encouraging lone wolf acts of violence, or infiltrating groups, like those new well organised balaclava wearing mobs we have seen recently or, if he could do it, taking out major industries or sections of the economy by infiltrating their computers and putting in 'kill' software.

I know this sounds like the stuff conspiracy theories are made of but DD works in one of the key industries that Putin or any other hacker would love to crash because of the damage it would do to the economy and the inconvenience, to put to mildly, it would cause millions of people.

In her opinion, what he would like to do, is something like disrupt the electricity in a region, say East Anglia, when I say disrupt, I mean totally stop all power supply in the chosen region so completely that water supply would be compromised(pumps not working), mobile phones would cease operating as the masts would have no electricity. Obviously within a few days everything would gradually get back to normal, but just think of the chaos, and the anger that it had happened.

We have seen in the last 2 weeks the chaos that can be caused by a minor glitch in air traffic control, no, not the Russians - this time, but imagine a major computer failure and the system is down for days. Or the banking industry have their core systems crashed?

Those leaflets about preparing for extreme weather conditions are actually asking us to be prepared for what may happen to us during this shadow war. Major shutdowns and disruption to that invisible network of computers systems that now run our lives. None will last more than a few days, although some problems may be longer lasting.

I am now thinking more seriously about prepping, at least buying another torch and more batteries.

As I have said before, I have always had a small surplus, and an 'emergency box' which has been variously ridiculed and raided over the years. I am not preparing for war - to be honest, if that happened I would rather go up in the first blast - but I am thinking about how we could go to ground for a week or so if there were power cuts, water supply interruptions or similar. Maybe natural forces, maybe malice, but I feel happier knowing I am prepared.

I have bought extra items, and plan to store them all in a large bag, or maybe clear out an under-bed drawer for the purpose. I have a wind-up solar powered radio, a power pack, two sizes of batteries, camping lanterns and a head torch. Oh, and one of those plastic long lighter things. I will put in a few foodstuffs, although the kitchen cupboards would keep us going for some time. If we had to leave the house, I could take the packs of lentil casserole and tuna salads with us, though - they wouldn't need heating and would be relatively tasty and better than nothing. I have been adding things like Imodium, paracetamol and sticking plasters, and have a four pack of loo roll in there, despite the numerous ones in the bathroom and boot room cupboards. I could donate them if there were a scarcity. I've ordered a pack of playing cards to arrive with my next grocery order, as in a power cut we'd be without TV or music .

I have 36 litres of water and a camping stove (with gas), and plenty of lentils, rice and pasta in the pantry as a matter of course.

In the absence of rioting and looting we'll be fine for weeks, but realistically if others don't 'prep' and shortages bite, it will be everyone for themselves, and two older people in the centre of a relatively wealthy town will be vulnerable.

I am considering asking the neighbours if they want to share numbers in case of emergency. We are mostly older people, and there are two widows in our small street, so I think it would make sense. If they haven't prepared I'd happily share what we have, as IMO if 'things' go on for long enough for us to run out there will either be central intervention or we'd just be deferring the inevitable.

It's just my way, though. I also have six baskets on a spare bed - one for each of my children, their partners, my husband and miscellaneous, and am adding Christmas presents to each as I find them. I like to spread the cost and cut the stress of it all by doing things gradually. September was aways my 'return to work' date when I started collecting stocking fillers, and I have continued the tradition.

Many in this thread have been underestimating Russia for 4 yrs, with conventional weapons NATO could have overwhelmed Russia easily but that didn't happen. Now weaponry has changed Russia has weaponized the economy he is confident enough to threaten the Baltic states knowing that with US weakened by the Iran war NATO has limited resources to respond.

UK and Europe is very weak we would find it difficult to respond to an attack, it's not just Russia thats the problem China will supply them with whatever technology they need to make low cost smart weapons. China itself is unassailable they ignore sanctions and any military action is unthinkable. We really need a settlement in Ukraine if it does escalate bombing Russia into submission is going to cost Europe massively

It is all getting a tad worrying for my liking

Eternal vigilance has been sadly lacking in recent years.

I see that the U.K. is to help the Saudis in defence against the Houthis.

Unfortunately it makes complete economic sense when looking at the geography of the area.

I wish everyone would calm down!